Space science camps, webinars set for UAE’s Generation Hope

dubai — Calling all space science enthusiasts, especially the youth: The UAE’s Generation Hope has officially started, aiming to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers who dream of exploring the galaxy.

A project of the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Generation Hope rolls out a slew of programmes and initiatives that seek to promote space science research and engage people of all ages in the country’s historic Mars mission.

Running from November until January next year, the programme comes as part of the education and outreach drive of the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), the first interplanetary mission of the Arab world. The UAE’s Hope probe is now cruising its way to the Red Planet and it is expected to reach the Martian orbit early next year.

Throughout this month, Generation Hope will host a series of webinars that will provide an overview of the Mars mission; an interesting introduction to visualisation tools for the Red Planet; and information on the EMM science data access, and more.

Hope camps

Generation Hope will also be running two camps in December and January.

The first is a five-day Generation Hope Camp in December that will host workshops for students aged 12 to 18 years old. Through these sessions, the youth will learn about all things Mars and other science topics, including EMM updates.

The second is a two-day intensive camp titled A Journey to Mars, which will be held for distinguished undergraduates in STEM fields. Here, the EMM Science Team will be sharing their experience, expertise and insights on essential topics related to the mission and Mars research.

Omran Sharaf, project director of the EMM, said: “Reaching Mars is not the final goal, but it’s the means for us to build a culture built on research, exploration, and innovation. “We are pleased to see

the growing interest in the space sector and look forward to hosting students in activities and events related to space exploration, and hopefully encourage them to consider careers in STEM.”

The annual Teacher Ambassador Programme will also be rolled out for its fifth year, seeking to provide educators with the knowledge and materials required to educate and train a new generation of space scientists and engineers. The programme will also launch a competition in December.